Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Sausalito’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Sausalito’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan,’ in particular, by its sweetness, acidity, internal color, longer petal length, longer flower diameter, anythocyanin color and coloration and moderate resistance to powdery mildew.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

Variety denomination: The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Sausalito’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899) and 14C185 (Unpatented Driscoll Variety) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered in Monterey County, Calif. in 2000. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Nursery in Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Monterey County, Calif., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Monterey County, Calif. for five years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Sausalito’. The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ from those known to us are ‘Driscoll Lanai’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,145) and ‘San Juan’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,899). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. For example, the new variety has a different internal color, longer petal length, longer flower diameter, different anythocyanin color and coloration and is moderately resistant to powdery mildew. Additional characteristics of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ include an orbicular petal shape, a rounded petal apex and an obtuse petal base. The typical and observed petal number of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ is six and the petal margin is entire. The typical and observed sepal number of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ is ten. ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ also has a laceolate sepal shape, an acute sepal apex and a serrate sepal margin. ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ also has a typical and observed broadly obviate leaflet shape and an obtuse leaflet apex. The average number of strawberries on the fruiting truss of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ is one.

‘Driscoll Sausalito’ is distinguished from its parent, ‘San Juan’ as indicated in Tables 1-4. Plants of 14C185 were not available for side by side comparison. ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ differs from 14C185 by having brighter red, more uniformly colored berries and superior shelf-life.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and upper side of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 5 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken on plants harvested from a nursery in Shasta country, Calif. in October, 2004 and held in cold storage until planting in Monterey County, Calif. in November 2004. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in Monterey County, Calif. Observations of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’, ‘Driscoll Lanai’, and ‘San Juan’ were made in side by side comparison in July 2005. Fruits were harvested twice weekly from April, 2004 to November, 2004 for yield determination. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on seven month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ compared with characteristics of ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’.

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL SAUSALITO’, ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 24.7 23.4 28.9 Spread of Plant (cm) 45.6 38.3 51.7 Number of Crowns 3.5 3.3 4.3 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet 6.9 6.7 7.5 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet 6.6 6.6 7.6 Width (cm) Terminal Leaflet 1.04 1.00 0.99 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal 17.8 21.1 20.4 Leaflet Color of upper side 137A 139A 147A medium green medium green medium to dark green Color of under side 137C 138B 147C light green light green light green Petiole Length (cm) 19.4 18.0 25.7 Petiole Diameter (mm) 3.6 2.9 3.7 Petiole Color 145B 145A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Petiolule Length (mm) 8.0 10.7 7.5 Petiolule Diameter 1.8 1.7 2.1 (mm) Petiolule Color 145C 145A 149A yellow green yellow green yellow green Bract Frequency 8% 0% 33% typically typically single single Stipule Length (cm) 3.5 3.2 3.5 Stipule Width (cm) 0.9 0.8 0.7 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color 185A 60A 59A greyed purple red purple red purple Diameter at bract 3.16 2.93 3.49 (mm) Avg. # of Daughter 56 59 69 plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.4 1.1 1.1 Petal Width (cm) 1.3 1.2 1.2 Petal Length/Width 1.08 0.94 0.90 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm) 3.1 2.8 2.6 Calyx Diameter (cm) 3.6 3.9 3.5 Sepal Length (mm) 11.4 11.7 11.7 Sepal Width (cm) 5.5 4.8 5.6 Color of Upper Side 155C 155C 155C of Petal white white white Receptical Color 154C 154C 154C yellow green yellow green yellow green Anther Color 13A 9A 9A yellow yellow yellow Fruiting Truss Length 25.3 25.3 33.1 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 3.8 3.8 3.9 Fruit Width (cm) 3.6 4.0 4.3 Fruit Length/Width 1.04 0.96 0.90 Ratio Average Berry Weight 2.18 23.9 25.4 (g) External Color 46A 45B 53A orange red orange red dark red Internal Color 35A 47C 44A whitish orange red red Achene Coloration 185A to 162B 185B to 154B 46B to 16A greyed purple greyed purple dark red to to greyed to greyed yellow yellow yellow Achenes per berry 195 292 304 Achene weight (g) 0.0006 0.0005 0.0006 2004 Marketable Yield 1,283 1,377 984 (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL SAUSALITO’, ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ Lanai’ Plant Habit flat flat Canopy Density medium open Vigor weak to medium medium Leaf Shape in cross section slightly concave slightly concave to flat Interveinal blistering medium medium Glossiness weak weak Number of leaflets three only three only Terminal leaflet margin profile revolute revolute Terminal leaflet shape of base rounded rounded Terminal leaflet shape of teeth rounded rounded Stipule pubescence sparse medium to dense Petiole pubescence sparse to medium dense medium Petiole pose of hairs outward downward Stolon Anthocyanin coloration very strong strong Thickness medium medium to thick Pubescence very sparse dense Inflorescence Position relative to foliage beneath to level level to above Diameter of calyx relative to larger same size to corolla on secondary flowers larger Diameter of inner calyx relative to larger larger outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical conical to ovoid Difference in shapes between slight slight primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes medium narrow to medium Unevenness of surface weak weak Evenness of color slightly uneven even Glossiness strong strong Insertion of achenes level to above level with fruit surface surface Insertion of calyx level to above level Pose of the calyx segments spreading to spreading to reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit on same size smaller secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong Firmness of flesh medium medium Evenness of flesh color slightly uneven uneven Distribution of flesh color marginal and marginal and central central Hollow center size small medium Sweetness strong medium Texture when tasted fine fine Acidity weak to medium medium Time of First Flowering After mid-February mid-February Planting in 2005 Harvest Interval in 2005 early April to late March to early November early November Type of Bearing partially partially everbearing everbearing ‘San Juan’ Plant Habit globose to flat globose Canopy Density medium Vigor medium Leaf Shape in cross section flat to slightly convex Interveinal blistering medium to strong Glossiness weak to medium weak Number of leaflets sometimes more than 3 leaflets (approx. 17% of leaves) Terminal leaflet margin profile revolute to flat Terminal leaflet shape of base obtuse to rounded Terminal leaflet shape of teeth rounded Stipule pubescence medium Petiole pubescence medium Petiole pose of hairs outward to downward Stolon Anthocyanin coloration strong Thickness medium Pubescence medium Inflorescence Position relative to foliage beneath to level Diameter of calyx relative to larger corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx relative to same size outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical to almost cylindrical Difference in shapes between moderate primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes narrow Unevenness of surface medium Evenness of color even Glossiness very strong Insertion of achenes level with surface Insertion of calyx level Pose of the calyx segments spreading to reflexed Size of calyx in relation to fruit on same size secondary fruit Adherence of calyx strong Firmness of flesh firm Evenness of flesh color slightly uneven to even Distribution of flesh color marginal and central Hollow center size medium Sweetness medium to strong Texture when tasted medium Acidity medium Time of First Flowering After mid-February Planting in 2005 Harvest Interval in 2005 late March to early November Type of Bearing partially everbearing

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL SAUSALITO’, ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible moderately susceptible Lygus Hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately susceptible susceptible resistant Verticillium wilt moderately moderately susceptible resistant resistant Strawberry Mottle Virus moderately moderately moderately resistant resistant resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Sausalito’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Sausalito’, ‘Driscoll Lanai’ and ‘San Juan’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL SAUSALITO’, ‘DRISCOLL LANAI’ AND ‘SAN JUAN’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Locus Sausalito’ Lanai’ ‘San Juan’ PGI A2 A1 A2 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C2 C4 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 